Spindle for engaging and winding textile fabric



C. W. COKER May 20, 1930.

SPINDLE FOR ENGAGING AND WINDING TEXTILE FABRIC Filed Sept. ll, 1925wound in use. The usual practice has beenl to` Patented May 20, 1930 yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. COKER, OF IIARTsvILLE, SOUTHCAROLINA, AssIGNoR TO soNoCo 131101)- UCTs COMPANY, oF IIARTsvILLE,sOUTII CAROLINA, ACORIORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA v SPINDLE FOR ENG-AGINGAND WINDING TEXTILE FABRIC Application filed September 171, 1923. lSeraI No. 662,147.

This invention relates to a portable, elongated, cylindrical spindleadapted tof yieldingly engage the straight end edge of an elongatedstrip of textile fabric or similar thin flexible material and byrotationto draw said fabric from a source of supply and wind it into a rollaround it and to act as a support for the roll during transportation tothe place of use and in unwinding. It is particularly adapted for use asthe drawing roll for cord tire fabric. Heretofore in winding fabric andparticularly, cord tire fabric, embodying as it does comparatively fewand comparatively weak transverse strands,'it has been found difficultto satisfactorily attach the end ofthe fabric to the roll for windingand to satisfactorily detach the end when the roll is un-` place the endof the fabric on the roll and drive tacksthrough it into the roll atintervals longitudinally'of the roll but this has many objectionablefeatures. It requires great care, close attention and consumesconsiderable time inall cases to accomplishV an engagement with the edgein correct' alignment on the roll and with the fabric smooth and withoutwrinkles longitudinally of the roll and it requires'experience to do itsatisfactorilyeven then. Detaching the fiXedly connected end from theroll when the fabric is unwound in use is also troublesome.y Thetendency of the spaced tacks to unevenly stretch the fabric at the endis also objectionable. My present invention is intended and adapted toavoid these defects in construction and resulting troubles in operationand to make it easy to attach the end edge of the fabric to the spindlein properly aligned position'and without wrinkles transversely and tohold said edge firmly at all points throughout its length and to permitit to be automatically disengaged from the spindle when it is reached inunwinding the fabric for use. The invention furthermore has theadvantages Of greatV simplicity of construction, low

. cost of manufacture, lightness and a surface including theclampingpart which will prevent displacement of the fabric by slipping.In the specific embodiment of the invention shown Vfor purposes ofillustration, itV conthe outer diameter of the tube on which it ts. TheOuter split tube closely fits the inner tube and its resiliency `causesit to yieldingly and uniformly press the fabric under it against theinner tube and this .pressure is increased if the inner diameterof theouter tube is made somewhat less than the outer diameter of the'innertube.

The invention and its novel features will be more fully understood fromthe following description and claims taken with-the accompanyingdrawings.

` AInthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a well known metal winding barprojecting from the end ofthe tubular spindleconstituting the presentAinvention, the end'of the spindle being shown in cross section and apartly wound Aroll of fabric'thereon shown in crossy section Vin adifferent plane from that of the spindle;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the tube and surrounding split tubeconstituting the present invention;v and Fig. fis a cross section likeFig. 2 showing "the fabric extending entirely around the inner tube. Y Y

Referring first to Fig. 3, which shows an embodiment of thein'ventiononly and' thus illustrates it mosty clearly, 10 represents the innertube of the spindle and 11 the outer split tube and it will be notedthat the parallel edges 12 and 13 of thesplit tube are spaced apartleaving an exposedsurface of the inner tube between them on which theend-edgeof the fabric may be placed and adjusted to proper alignmentbeforeV being inserted under the edge of the split tube for clampingengagement preparatory to winding. In in- .sertingsthe end edge ofthefabric under-the -ment of the clamped end.

fabric.

edge 13, for instance, it is necessary, of course, that it shall bemoved radially outward from the surface of tube 10 and held in its outerposition during the movement of the end edge `of the Vfabric intoproperly adjusted position beneath it and although this may be easilydone manually by one person While another adjusts the fabric or With alittle eX 'perience it can be successfully done lby one -person alone,it is preferred to 'insert a small nf'edge circular in cross section ateach end of the spindle 4between tlieedge ,portion of the split tube andthe outer surface ofthe 'inner tube at a sufficient distance fromthe-edge to permit the end edge of the fabric to eX- tcndunder saidedgetlre desired .distance for clamping engagement. This lastarrangement makes it possible fora single person to easily-quickly andaccurately attach'the end edge .of the Afabric tothe spindle forWinding. The straightcdge ofthe split tube serves as-a closely adjacentguide for the longitudinal alignment of theyend edgeof the fabric on thespindle `and since one Wedge will be removed before the other theoperator may remove any Wrinkles then formed by holding the fabric inextended position with one hand While he removes the other Wedge Vwithhis other hand.

.As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the fabric extends, from itsend position le under the edge portion 13 of thesplittube 11, in `thesaine direction around the exposed surface of tube 10 `over .edge 12 andthus in starting the Winding after the `end edge Vis clamped anyresistance of the fabric tothe necessary longitudinal movement inWinding will 4be in azdirec-tion which will tend to, in a sense, pullthe end edge of the fabric in a direct line out of the clamp. Theuniform radial pressure on both sides of the clamped end of the fabricand a slight roughness vof the tubes in contact with it will howevercause sufficient Yfrictional resistance uniformly distributed throughoutthe Width of the fabric to prevent any possible slipping or disarrange*Each layer of the fabric after the first vby its tension furthermoreincreases the clamping pressure. This arrangement furthermore has a veryvaluable function and advantage in unwinding the fabric for use sinceWhen the end is reached, the tension on the fabric will be in the rightdirection to most easily and With the least possible frictionalresistance draw it from its position below tlie clamping edge 13 Withoutany injury to even the clamped end of the It Will be noted that in thisoperation the tension of the fabric tends to liftthe edge 18A from thesurface ofthe tube thus aiding in the release. I i f The outer splittube shown in Figs. 1 and 2 isl ofVv greater 4thickness than that shownin Figi. 8 and has a longitudinallyextending depression la 'en its inner'snif-aes midway between its parallel edges formed by scoring Which theform shown in Fig. 3 does not have. The reason for this is that if thesemicylindrical tube is sufficiently thin it may be opened to thedesired extent by a spring action in assembling and in use Withoutdanger of breaking or splitting but it is sometimes desired to use tubesof greater thickness for purposes of strength and rigidity and thescoring makes this possible With- 'y j.

out danger of breaking during the necessary Opening.

It will of course be understood that the length ofthe tubular spindlevaries with the Width of the fabric to be Wound on and car- 2O with itsouter, rather sharp, edge 19 nor-W mally resting against onelongitudinal edge of the slot 17 and terminating at for very slightly'beyond the cylindrical outer surface of said bar. This pivoted stripserves as automatic means for so engaging the inner .i

surface of the inner tube 10 of the spindle as to cause it to rotateWith the bar 16 when thatv bar is turned in one direction. When thespindle is in place on the bar 16'and the end 14 of the fabric isclamped to the spindleA and the outer portion 19 of tlie metal strip 18i i rests against the edge 21,'of 'slot 17 with its rather sharp edgeengaging, under slight pressure, the inner surface of tube 10 a rotarymovement of the bar 16 in the direction,

indicated by the arrow in Fig, 2 to Wind the fabric Will tend to movethe spindle with it Vand although the tension of the fabric resisting itWill tend to cause slight rotary slipping of the 'spindle Von' the bar,the contact of the inner surface of tube 10 with the 'ii-1'" edge 19Will quicklyturn strip 18 on its pivot sufiiciently to make it so firmlyengage the inner surface of tube 10 as to prevent any slipping. VV'henthe Windingrof a roll is finished 4 the rotary connection between thebar and spindle may be released by a slight reverse relative 'rotarymovement.

The metal Winding bar 16 is solid except for the longitudinal groove 17which is prefi erably V-sh-aped in section as shown in Fig. 2.

Although as above stated, the gripping action ofthe tubes on the fabricwill ordinarily be sufficient to prevent Vthe fabric from beingWithdrawninstarting the operation of Wind ,f

ing or during Winding Where the end edge of l the fabric extends underthe edge of the outer tube for only ashort distance, it will beunderstood that the end edge of the fabric may extend under the edge ofthe outer tube and around the inner `tube as far as may be desired. Forinstance it may extend entirely around the inner tube to the oppositeedge of the outer tube, as shown in Fig. 4. In this instance the endedge of the fabric is, of course, first placed on the inner tube inlongitudinal position and is wound around that tube one turn and thenthe edges of the outer split tube are separated and the two tubes arethen brought together longitudinally. This arrangement increases thegripping action both because of the increased contact surface andbecause of the increased diameter of the inner tube due to its windingof yarn.

Under some circumstances and particularly where it is desired that theend edge of the fabric extend only a short distance under the edge ofthe outer tube it is advisable to secure one edge portion of theouter'split tube to the outer surface of the inner tube by paste or otheradhesive material, 22, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to avoid anypossibility that 'the outer split tube will turn on the vinner tube.

As heretofore stated, when the roll of fabric on the spindle has beentransported to the place of use and is being unwound, it is notnecessary to stop the unwinding movement to release the end of thefabric from the spindle since it will be automatically released by thetension of the fabric when it is reached and the pull is direct. A veryuseful and valuable feature of the present invention is that neither thefabric nor the spindle is injured in the least, during the winding orunwinding and that the spindle may be used many times. v

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been' shown forpurposes of illustration, it will be understood that it `is notV limitedto details beyond those specified in the claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable spindle for clamping and winding textile fabric comprisingin Vcoinbination, a cylindrical pasteboard tube, a split pasteboard tubeclosely and yieldingly fitting under tension and largely surroundingsaid tube substantially throughout its length, having spaced parallellongitudinal edges, the inner side of the split tube being of a hollowcylindrical tube of fibrous material adapted to be placed concentricallyon said bar and to turn therewith, said tube having an unbroken outercylindrical surface, Y and an elongated longitudinally split cylindricaltube of brous material fitting over said hollow tube and gripping thesame by spring action, one edge of said split tube being adapted to beraised to receive thereunder one end of a web of fabric to be wound onsaid tubes, and the opposite edge of said tube being permanentlyattached by adhesive to the said-hollow cylindrical tube.

3. The combination with a winding bar of a hollow cylindrical tubeadapted to be placed concentrically on said bar and to turn therewith,said tube having an unbroken outer cylindrical surface, and an elongatedlongitudinally split cylindrical tube fitting over said hollow tube andgripping the same by spring action, one edge of said split tube beingadapted to be raised to receive thereunder one end of a web of fabric tobe wound on said tubes, said split tube being scored longitudinally at adistance from its longitudinal edges to facilitate raising one of saidedges from the hollow cylindrical tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature.

. CHARLES W. COKER.

scored longitudinally to facilitate lateral bending without breakingwhen opened,

,whereby the straight end edge of the fabric to be wound may be insertedunder one straight Vedge and securely clamped by it to the inner tube ofthe spindle.

2. The combination with a Winding bar

